Congressional GOP Is Why America Doesn’t Have a Wall

[Right_in_Virginia]

Congressional GOP Is Why America Doesn’t Have a Wall
Republican disdain for Trump is what needs to be shut down.
American Spectator, Dec 31, 2018, Brandon J. Weichert

In a recent poll conducted by Harvard University of all places, 80 percent of all voters say the United States needs a secure border — including 68 percent of Democratic Party voters. Meanwhile, 79 percent of voters polled by Harvard want immigration status to be conferred to those who have the “ability to contribute to America” (with 87 percent of Republicans and 72 percent of Democrats agreeing with that claim). Essentially, despite what the punditariat may claim, President Donald Trump is on the right side of one of the most pressing issues of our time.

[...]

Donald J. Trump is hated even more by the Republican establishment than he is by the Democrats. That has become apparent as the “leadership” of outgoing Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has overseen the greatest legislative retreat in history. Given all of the advantages that being in the majority offers, Ryan squandered every single one of them — from repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) to building the wall. Because the GOP could not maintain a decisive record of legislative victories over the last two years, particularly on things that have long animated the Right (such as immigration enforcement), the voters awarded the Democratic Party control of the House of Representatives.

With just a single week left, the Republicans could have done something to further the cause of immigration enforcement that a majority of American voters clearly support. Unfortunately, though, the cowards have opted instead to adhere to the wishes of the oligarchs who fund most Republican political activities these days. The GOP has decided to allow the clock to run down and Donald Trump, the president that most of them hate with extreme prejudice (more than the Democrats do), to look bad. Trump has lived up to his campaign promises of fighting for a border wall and he has enforced tougher immigration policies than his predecessors ever could have dreamed. If Trump had his way, the murder of Corporal Singh would not have occurred because his government would have deported Singh’s murderer (and those like him) out of the country long ago.

Unfortunately, Trump could not simply have his way on the matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, the Republican Party opted to spend the last two years waxing eloquent on the need to give the wealthy more tax cuts while crafting every excuse imaginable to prevent the border wall from being built while undermining any serious attempt at immigration enforcement. Now, the president stands alone during the holiday season’s government shutdown. The Republican Party leadership has fled the capital while whining to the press that Trump should have signed a spending bill to keep the government funded through the new year — thereby surrendering to The Swamp and abandoning any hope of getting the necessary funding to build his border wall.


Read more:  https://spectator.org/congressional-republicans-are-why-america-doesnt-have-a-wall/

[jmyrlefuller]

. Instead, the Republican Party opted to spend the last two years waxing eloquent on the need to give the wealthy more tax cuts while crafting every excuse imaginable to prevent the border wall from being built while undermining any serious attempt at immigration enforcement.

Ping.

Honestly, I don't think most of them fully grasp why the whole "tax cuts" meme doesn't work. Mitt Romney came the closest when he noted how many people were off the income tax rolls. When that happens, any further tax cuts only help the rich.

But in all fairness, Paul Ryan's inability to lead was not unique. Had the GOP stood up for Roy Moore when the media decided to smear him instead of turning their back on a much-needed seat, John McCain wouldn't have been able to singlehandedly kill Obamacare repeal.

[240B]

That's was McCain's last middle finger, that was his last FU to the GOP before he died. I hope he is happy, wherever the hell he is now. But somehow I doubt it. He was and likely still is, a mean vindictive punk. He fit right in with the Dems. Bless his heart.

[andy58-in-nh]

The underlying problem is the same as it has been for many years now: the Democrat establishment loves its political "base" with approximately the same intensity with which the Republican establishment despises its own.

Democrats appeal to their base by promising them political and financial benefits at the expense of others and then, by delivering on their promises; Republicans appeal to theirs by promising them things they never intend to deliver.   

[Fishrrman]

Title and premise:
"Congressional GOP Is Why America Doesn’t Have a Wall"

The author is absolutely right.
The Pubbies had the Congress for two years and did.... nothing.

Even over the past couple of weeks, the Senate could have rammed through the wall legislation ... IF Mitch the turtle had only had the intestinal fortitude to "do what must be done": eliminate the 60-vote filibuster rule once and for all.

The only way that wall construction will get moving over the next two years is for Mr. Trump to order the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction, and then be prepared to take whatever heat is thrown up against him for having made that decision.

I'd force the issue to "threat of impeachment" if I had the power to do so. And then let them try to make good on it.

[EdJames]

Title and premise:
"Congressional GOP Is Why America Doesn’t Have a Wall"

The author is absolutely right.
The Pubbies had the Congress for two years and did.... nothing.

Even over the past couple of weeks, the Senate could have rammed through the wall legislation ... IF Mitch the turtle had only had the intestinal fortitude to "do what must be done": eliminate the 60-vote filibuster rule once and for all.

The only way that wall construction will get moving over the next two years is for Mr. Trump to order the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction, and then be prepared to take whatever heat is thrown up against him for having made that decision.

I'd force the issue to "threat of impeachment" if I had the power to do so. And then let them try to make good on it.

He could have done it without even resorting to that.  All he had to do (weeks ago) is bring the proper bill to a vote to proceed and force the dems to actually perform a real filibuster.  I suspect that they wouldn't last a week.  What he is essentially doing now is letting their stated threat of a filibuster stop him cold in his tracks.